Milieau Hanover proves to be much the best

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Milieu Hanover (Betting Line) had to battle a combination of a sloppy track, a first-over journey, and favored pacesetter Scarlett Hanover, but she proved herself much the best in the $17,500 featured distaff harness racing pace on Monday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning by three lengths in 1:52.2.

Jim Pantaleano kept the winning mare off the early battle, which saw Scarlett Hanover emerge on top past a :26.4 quarter. Going onto a strong headwind, Scarlett Hanover took a breather to the :55.3 half, but then had to sharpen the speed as Milieu Hanover steadily made-up ground on her to the 1:23.2 three-quarters.

Instead of a classic far turn duel between two favorites, the battle the rest of the way was all Milieu Hanover as she drew away, with Audra Day clearing from the pocket to get second ahead of Major Battle, with the favorite fading to fourth.

Milieu Hanover, it was her second win in a row, both over off tracks at Pocono, and she increased her earnings to $251,128 for trainer Nicholas Devita and the ownership of Devita Racing Stable Inc., David Hamm, and Christopher Giaccio.

MILIEU HANOVER REPLAY

The $17,000 distaff co-feature also featured a repeater over an off track in the So Surreal mare Think Of Galaxies, a heavy favorite who controlled the pace and scooted clear by 3¾ lengths in 1:53.2. The meet’s leading driver and trainer, Matt Kakaley and Ron Burke, are the team behind the winner of $262,165, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC in partnership with Peter Kleinhans.

THINK OF GALAXIES REPLAY

Anthony Napolitano, who steered five winners on the Saturday Pocono card, kept the hot hands on Monday by bringing five more horses back to Victory Lane.

The Pocono racing week wraps up on Tuesday with a 1:30 post time. Program pages for all Pocono races are or will be available by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the PHHA/The Downs